2025 Audi A3

Overview

The 2025 A3 sedan is the smallest car Audi sells in North America but despite its diminutive size this compact four-door delivers a lively driving experience, one that's reminiscent of what you'll find in the brand's larger sports sedans. A 201-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder delivers modest pep, but runs smoothly and is eager to rev. For more performance, consider the S3 (reviewed separately) which amps things up considerably with an additional 127 horsepower and sportier handling. All A3 models come with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but you get to choose from either a front- or all-wheel drive layout. The interior is roomy for two adults but tight for four, and the trunk is less spacious than those of rivals such as the Acura Integra and the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe. If you're a fan of tech features the A3 delivers, however, with a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen occupying prime locations on the dashboard. Audi also offers plenty of driver-assistance features if you're looking to drive with digital training wheels. We aren't, so we appreciate the A3's playful handling. Luckily Audi gives you the option of shutting off the assist features when you don't need their intervention.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#4 in Best Subcompact Luxury Cars

1

Acura Integra Type S

STARTING AT: $52,999

2

Audi S3

STARTING AT: $48,495

3

BMW 2-series

STARTING AT: $39,795

4

Audi A3

STARTING AT: $37,000

5

BMW M2

STARTING AT: $64,195

6

Audi RS3

STARTING AT: $63,395

What's New for 2025?

The A3 receives a light styling refresh for 2025 that includes tweaks to the car's grille, headlamps, bumpers, wheels, and rear diffuser. The new look is somewhat sportier than before and that theme is carried over to the interior where silver trim now adorns the air vents, new interior lighting elements have been added, and decorative fabric trim pieces have been integrated throughout the design. Despite the styling upgrades, we expect to see no changes to the A3's powertrain for 2025 so performance should stay roughly the same as last year's model.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

We recommend the mid-range Premium Plus model, as the added features offer a strong return on the modest price increase. Included are adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, memory seat and mirror settings for the driver, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and passive keyless entry.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

A3 buyers won’t lose any sleep debating which powertrain to choose, as the 201-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 48-volt hybrid system and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is the sole choice. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. The chassis is playful and reactive enough to make commuting entertaining, and it delivers a pleasant ride over most surfaces—though you won’t mistake it for a genuine sports sedan. If you're looking for heightened performance and faster reflexes we encourage you to consider the 328-horsepower S3, which shaves nearly 2 seconds off the A3’s 6.0-second 60-mph time.

0–60-MPH Times

At our test track, the A3 needed 6.0 seconds to hit 60, which is slower than some of its rivals as well as the previous generation model. It makes up for it with quick responses aided by all 221 foot-pounds of torque reporting for duty at a low 1600 rpm.

View Photos

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The A3 earns an impressive 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway fuel economy estimates from the EPA; all-wheel drive models are rated for 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. In our hands, however, the all-wheel drive A3 beat its official EPA number, returning a solid 40 mpg on C/D’s 200-mile, 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route. For more information about the A3's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The interior of the 2025 A3 strives to blend emerging tech and infotainment and traditional European sedan design elements with mixed results. The seating position is excellent, the available sport seats feature quilted seating surfaces and faux-suede trimming, and a line of stitching on the dash adds a touch of visual appeal. Unfortunately, those efforts are offset by the funky nub of a shift lever, a fussy multi-function audio control, and more than a little hard plastic trim. Comfort for the driver and passenger is ample, but if you’re looking for innovative or spacious storage solutions, you’ll be disappointed. That said, the A3's 10.9 cubic feet of trunk space is enough for an average grocery store haul or a weekend's worth of luggage.

View Photos

Infotainment and Connectivity

The A3 features a digital instrument cluster; a 10.3-inch display is standard but can be upgraded to a larger 12.3-inch unit as part of the Technology package. Opting for the Tech package also brings navigation and enables the ability to display the navigation map in the center of the instrument cluster. It also adds traffic-sign recognition, a Bang and Olufsen audio system, and six months of Audi Connect Plus, 4G LTE wi-fi connectivity. Mercifully, the A3 forgoes the brand's new dual-screen setup that makes climate controls and vehicle driving-mode switches a digital affair. On the other hand, the car's single-screen setup rules out the new Audi app store that supports services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and the like. It’s available on the rest of the lineup, so tech-dependent buyers may wish to consider the A4 or other models.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Driver-assistance technology is featured heavily on the A3, with basics including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams included on all models. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors, and park assist are all available. For more information about the A3's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Audi's standard warranty package is nothing special and both its limited and powertrain warranties match those offered by BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Rivals such as the Cadillac CT4 will offer more value in this area with longer powertrain coverage; the BMW 2-series offers three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

Specifications

2022 Audi A3 Quattro
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $37,895/$45,390
Options: Premium Plus package (adaptive cruise control, vehicle alarm with motion sensor, active lane assist, side- and cross-traffic assist, full LED headlights, driver's seat memory, park assist, wireless phone charger), $3300; Technology package (Audi Connect Plus, Audi MMI Navigation Plus, virtual cockpit with 12.3-inch display, Bang & Olufsen stereo, side-traffic alert), $2250; 18-inch wheel package with all-season tires, $800; Manhattan Gray metallic paint, $595; interior style package (Agate Gray grain birch wood inlays, LED interior lighting), $550

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 121 in³, 1984 cm³
Power: 201 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 221 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm 

TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.0-in vented disc/10.7-in disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero All Season
Tire Size: 225/40R-18 92H M+S AO

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 103.5 in
Length: 176.9 in
Width: 71.5 in
Height: 56.2 in
Passenger Volume: 88 ft³
Trunk Volume: 8–11 ft³
Curb Weight: 3509 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.6 sec @ 95 mph
100 mph: 16.1 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.8 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.6 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 127 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 181 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.89 g 

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 26 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 40 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 560 mi 

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 31/28/36 mpg  

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs